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Assembly Notes /Getting Started (A)  page 3

Instructions for Special Edition Kit #JM-907 Alison Jr

Assembly Tips:

A large, clutter-free, well-lighted work area is helpful 
during assembly, but a fl at work surface is essential.

Read the instructions

 carefully; look at each of the 

illustrations.  

!With the parts in your hands!

, think the 

assembly through before you proceed. 

Test fi t 

each time you are ready to glue a piece in place...

then you’ll know you have it right.
If more tape or a helper is needed, it’s good to know that 
before the parts have glue on them. 

Don’t be stingy with glue or tape;

 use generous amounts.  

Always wipe off excess glue immediately.  
Keep one damp rag and one dry rag handy all the time.

Have weights available 

for holding things tight as glue 

joints dry (stacks of books, gallons of pure Vermont Maple 
Syrup - anything heavy)

Glue the body of your dollhouse together

 

with 

white, water clean-up glue that dries clear.  Do not use 
instant-bond (super glue), fast-tack, rubber cement, sili-
cone, or hot melt glues.  They are all used in some wood 
applications, but they all have some characteristic that 
makes them un-desirable for the body of your dollhouse.  
Carpenter Glue works well, but glue-smear dries yellow 
or tan; many of the things you glue onto the house are pre-
painted – extra glue will show.  

I use Aleene’s Tacky Glue® 

for housebody assembly.

Make sure everything is straight and fl at as glue dries

... 

That’s the shape that will be permanent.

  

Q: Can I wallpaper before I assemble the doll house?

A: Yes you can (it’s your house!) Many experienced builders are 
advocates of papering before construction - I am not.

My biggest objection to papering fi rst is that you are always too 
skimpy with glue so none will squeeze out and get on the paper.  
I try to use the amount of glue that fi lls the joint, so some will 
squeeze out in every joint and be wiped up.  But wiping glue off 
of wallpaper leaves a streak, so the temptation is to go skimpy, 
and the joints aren’t as strong. 

Second, I can always tell a house that was pre-papered because 
the corners show a void instead of being continuous (see the 
slideshows about how to crowd the papers together in the cor-
ner... you can’t do that with pre-papered walls).  

Third, I have had to replace paper too often that has gotten 
damaged by glue or tape during construction... that wastes time 
and paper ($) and can make it so you are left deciding whether 
to replace a damaged paper or letting it slide because you don’t 
have any more of that pattern and you’ll have to order it and that 
takes too much time (running out but then needing another piece 
is a distressing moment).

Finally, I don’t fi nd pre-papering to be faster.  By the time I have 
done all of the extra planning that getting the papers in the right 
place requires, I have used up any potential advantage.  I have 
great big blacksmith’s hands, and papering in a fi nished house is 
easy for me.  
All that having been said, I do pre-cut the papers used in the 
attic before attaching the Roofs and I paper in front of the Blind 
Dividers (2

1

/

2

”) before I glue them in place.  

Glue the shingles on

 

with glue that doesn’t have any water in 

it!  If the glue says ”water clean-up”, it will curl the wooden shin-
gles.  Look carefully at the glue you intend to use to be sure it is 
solvent-based, or use hot-melt glue (and watch out for the burns).  
I use a “Sub-Floor Adhesive” glue which comes in a caulking-gun 
tube at the hardware or building supply store.  It says “Caution: 
Flammible” on the front, and that’s how I am sure it is 

solvent 

based

.  Check ingredients and warnings!

If you Wallpaper

,

 use Yes® craft paste (for bookbinding or 

collage) or pre-mixed Roman’s “Border” paste.  
Brush paste on the wallpaper, then the wall, and fi nally smooth 
the wallpaper into position.

Taking things apart:

 Heat softens glue.  If you have to take things 

apart, warm the part in the oven at 170

o

 for up to a half hour to let 

the heat get into the joint where the glue is.  Don’t let it get hotter 
than you can touch or the paint may scorch. Don’t heat window 
panes.

When glue is drying,

 skip ahead to up-coming assembly steps 

and prepare the parts that will be used

Before you begin, read the “Finish the Inside”

 section on the 

last page.  

Overview of the Build:

Identify and label all of the parts
Paint everything one coat

 (see www.realgoodtoys.help/JM907/painting)

Finish the fl oors
Sand painted surfaces until the paint is smooth, transparent, 

and some of the wood is showing through

Optional: Add an Electrifi cation Slot to the Base Floor*
Build the housebody until the Top Floor
Optional: Start the wiring
Mark, paint, and attach theTop Floor
Build and attach the Foundation
Pre-cut wallpaper for the inside of the Roofs
Attach the Roofs (Optional: E-slot the Top Floor)
Optional: Attic wiring
Install the Dividers (but not the Blind Dividers)
Optional: Finish the wiring
Assemble and fi nish painting
Finish the outside
Finish the inside

Details of each step will be expanded along the way, but lots of 
folks like to see how it all fi ts together before they start

Slideshows, demos, useful links, details, and photos are all at:  

www.realgoodtoys.help

Wiring?  www.realgoodtoys.help 

Click the buttons “

JM907

” and “

Wiring

” for wir-

ing information specifi c to this house.

Summary of Contents for #SE-JM907

Page 1: ...over a large area while it is being built You will need a large flat tabletop for the house several boxes to keep parts organized until they are needed and several trays lined with waxed paper for hol...

Page 2: ...se shop or www realgoodtoys com Doors 6022 6002 6018 1015 Windows fit full size working or non working 5042 5041 6803 Banister 6803 Banister Landing Set Landing Set Wallpaper Wallpaper P2000 P2000 HH4...

Page 3: ...to order it and that takes too much time running out but then needing another piece is a distressing moment Finally I don t find pre papering to be faster By the time I have done all of the extra pla...

Page 4: ...r Front 1 E 6419 Tower Front 3 3 8 8 Milled 28 x 7 Windows Grooved Milled 28 x 7 Windows Grooved 1 E 6420 Left Front 1 E 6420 Left Front 3 3 8 8 Milled 18 Milled 185 5 8 8 x 1 x 11 1 2 2 Grooved Groov...

Page 5: ...2 E 6458 Porch Side Gingerbread 31 4 2 E 6460 Tower Top Cresting 31 8 2 E 6461 Tower Top Cresting 31 4 3 E 6429 Tower Roof 1 4 77 8 Tall x 73 8 Base 1 E 6427 Left Front Roof 1 4 21 8 Base x 97 32 Tall...

Page 6: ...corner left over from the tool that made it Make two cuts in each corner from the outside one from each direction then cut from each direc tion on the inside to cut away the rounding in the corner so...

Page 7: ...hat makes it smooth and Heirloom Great Second coat everything after building the housebody up to the top of the Walls before attaching the Top Floor The second coat goes on smooth and creamy and excep...

Page 8: ...The Base floor fits into the base floor groove Notice that the floorboards are wider on one edge and narrower on the other edge Set up the Base Floor with the floorboard profile matching the floorboar...

Page 9: ...e operation that straightens the house Tape the Front securely to the Right Side to hold everything tight as the glue dries Illustration 6 Review Make sure all parts are in place and all the joints ar...

Page 10: ...the Top Floor on the housebody centered side to side The Top Floor overhangs the Tower Sides 1 8 in the front and overhangs the house 11 16 on each side Lightly trace the perimeter of the house body...

Page 11: ...The Top Floor lines up with the Sides in back Instructions for the Special Edition SE JM907 The Alison Jr C Foundation Page 11 Illustration 14 Foundation lines up with the rear edge of the Base Floor...

Page 12: ...h Floors while the glue sets Remove the Dividers before installing the Porch Gingerbread Porch Assembly The parts used in this section should be painted ahead of time If they have not been painted do...

Page 13: ...se pairs of shingles if you wish to elevate the Railing sets above the Porch Floor Glue the porch parts in place Illustration 19 31 4 Rail 3 1 4 Porch Side Gingerbread Housebody Porch Post Porch Floor...

Page 14: ...Instructions for the Special Edition SE JM907 The Alison Jr D Porch Page 14 Illustration 20 Porch Floor 63 8 Rail 63 8 Porch Front Gingerbread Porch Post Porch Post...

Page 15: ...they fit Take the Roofs off then glue and tape them to each other to the Top Floor and to the Tower Top Sides Illustration 22 Check to make sure the Roofs are flush with the edges of the Tower Top Sid...

Page 16: ...pe the Rooftop Extension in position Illustration 24 Review Check the fit of all the parts and make sure all the joints are tight Make sure the Floors and Roof Top are straight flat and evenly spaced...

Page 17: ...glued on Check that all the spacing is still the way you like it Let the glue dry Brackets Illustration 26 Tower Front 33 16 step 33 C Spaced evenly Step 33 B Tower Roof Top Tower Side Roof Tower Fro...

Page 18: ...e open ings square if necessary for a good fit 37 Paint the Shutter parts on both faces Without glue adjust the spacing of the Shutter Panels on the Shutter Cores Illustration 34 Remove the Shutter Pa...

Page 19: ...o fit Cut angled Shingles for the corners before attaching them The first row of Shingles is tight to the bottom the rest line up with the guidelines Finish each row the sides first then the front bef...

Page 20: ...9 Glue the Front Step in place Photo on pg 1 Instructions for the Special Edition SE JM907 The Alison Jr I Gingerbread Page 20 77 8 31 8 31 4 31 4 31 8 113 16 123 4 Illustration 40 7 8 Flutepost 3 8 B...

Page 21: ...s together Illustration 43 Glue the Bottom and Top Stair Blocks together Illustration 43 Without glue test the Stair assembly in the stair hole The stairs Without glue test the Stair assembly in the s...

Page 22: ...partial list of accessories available through your dealer from Real Good Toys J FK Interior Finishing kit JM33 Victorian Style Junior Addition JM66 Junior Conservatory Addition Dye 1 Brown Shingle Dy...

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